Explore specialist leadwork technical advice covering lead roofing, lead flashings, rolled lead sheet, lead codes, repairs, welding, tools, standards and #ProperLeadwork.
The Lead Lads® knowledge hub brings together practical leadwork technical advice, technical standards, completed projects and specialist information for anyone researching or working with rolled lead sheet. Whether you are learning about lead roofing, lead flashings, repairs, welding, gutters, dormers or material codes, the resources below explain how leadwork should be selected, detailed, installed and maintained.
Use this page as the starting point for our growing library of technical articles, practical guides, standards, project examples and video content.
These cornerstone resources provide practical leadwork technical advice on materials, design principles, lead codes and the standards behind successful lead roofing.
Understand lead roofs, bays, gutters, rolls, drips, movement, detailing and the principles behind long-lasting rolled lead sheet roofing.
Read the Lead Roofing GuideCompare common lead codes, sheet thicknesses, weights and applications when selecting rolled lead sheet for roofing and flashing work.
Explore Lead CodesExplore BS EN 12588, BS 6915, recognised industry guidance and the technical principles that support #ProperLeadwork.
Explore Leadwork StandardsOur article archive is organised into specialist leadwork categories. Browse by topic to explore practical guidance, technical explanations, project observations and traditional leadworking details.
Lead roofs, flat roofs, bays, rolls, drips, movement, detailing and complete lead roofing systems.
Browse Lead Roofing ArticlesAprons, soakers, stepped flashings, cover flashings, abutments, parapets and chimney weatherings.
Browse Lead Flashing ArticlesBay window roofs, timber rolls, drips, welts, bay sizing, lead codes and thermal movement.
Browse Lead Bay ArticlesLead-clad dormers, cheeks, roofs, junctions, flashings and architectural leadwork detailing.
Browse Lead Dormer ArticlesLead-lined gutters, valleys, outlets, sumps, drips, expansion details and rainwater management.
Browse Lead Guttering ArticlesBossing, welding, junctions, corners, outlets and the small details that determine long-term performance.
Browse Lead Detailing ArticlesOur Proper Leadwork Technical Series provides detailed leadwork technical advice on the principles, common defects and detailing decisions behind durable rolled lead sheet roofing.
The series covers subjects such as material selection, thermal movement, bay sizing, substrates, fixing, falls, joints and the interaction between individual lead details and the wider roof construction.
It is designed as a growing technical reference for leadworkers, roofers, specifiers, property professionals and clients who want to understand why proper detailing matters.
Explore the Technical Series
Splitting, fatigue, buckling, recurring leaks and failed joints often point to underlying problems with movement, bay sizing, support, fixing or historic detailing. Our repair guidance focuses on understanding the cause before selecting the remedy.
Understand why lead roofs split, when localised repair may be suitable and when partial or complete replacement should be considered.
Lead Roof Repair GuideGuidance on failed lead valleys and gutters, including fatigue, laps, movement, drainage and replacement considerations.
Explore Lead Valley RepairAprons, soakers, stepped flashings, cover flashings, saddles and back gutters around traditional chimney stacks.
Explore Chimney Leadwork
Specialist lead roofing relies on more than selecting the correct sheet. Skilled forming, bossing, dressing and welding allow complex junctions, corners, outlets, sumps and architectural details to be created.
Our practical lead welding guide explains where welding is used, how it differs from bossing and why it must always be considered alongside thermal movement and wider roof design.
Read the Lead Welding Guide Browse Lead Detailing ArticlesProper leadwork depends on suitable materials, technically sound design and skilled installation. These standards and guidance support consistent detailing, movement control and long-term performance.
Material code, bay dimensions, falls, rolls, drips, laps, fixings, substrates and thermal movement must all be considered as parts of the same roof system.
Explore Leadwork Standards
Explore the standard covering the composition, dimensions and mechanical properties of rolled lead sheet used in building applications.
Understand recommendations relevant to the design and installation of fully supported rolled lead sheet roof and wall coverings.
Explore our technical series covering standards, materials, movement, detailing, workmanship and common leadwork defects.
Leadwork technical advice is most useful when it can be connected to real work. Completed projects show how material selection, movement detailing, welding, junctions and weathering principles are applied on actual buildings.
Our project archive includes lead bays, flat roofs, dormers, valleys, gutters, welded details, chimney weatherings and specialist architectural and heritage leadwork.
View Lead Roofing Projects
Explore examples of specialist rolled lead sheet roofing and detailed architectural leadwork completed on real buildings.
Specialist roofing and architectural leadwork demonstrating how bespoke lead details can be integrated into a distinctive building.
A carefully formed lead-clad canopy showing why junctions, corners and edge detailing matter to both appearance and performance.
Our leadwork videos complement the written leadwork technical advice throughout this knowledge hub, showing specialist roofing, welding, forming and detailing in practice.
Use the video library alongside our written articles, standards and project examples to better understand how traditional leadworking techniques are applied on site.
View Leadwork Videos
Leadwork depends upon suitable materials, specialist tools and carefully selected fixings. The Lead Lads® Shop supplies rolled lead sheet, leadwork fixings, hand tools and associated roofing materials.
Use our online lead chart to select the required lead code, width and roll size, or browse rolled lead sheet and specialist accessories for your next project.
Shop the Lead Chart Shop Rolled Lead SheetProper leadwork is not defined by the lead sheet alone. Successful roofing combines suitable material selection, technically appropriate detailing, allowance for thermal movement, correct support and skilled installation.
Our leadwork technical advice exists to explain those principles, document completed work and help clients, tradespeople and specifiers better understand one of the most durable and adaptable roofing materials available.
Start with these common questions, then follow the links to our detailed technical guides and resources.
Leadwork is the use of rolled or traditionally produced lead sheet to form roof coverings, flashings, valleys, gutters, weatherings and architectural details. Correct design must allow the material to expand and contract while managing water effectively.
Lead codes describe standard rolled lead sheet thicknesses and weights. Different applications require different codes depending upon sheet size, exposure, detailing and use. See our lead code and flashing chart for further guidance.
Rolled lead sheet used in building applications is commonly manufactured to BS EN 12588. Design and installation should also consider relevant recognised leadwork guidance and applicable recommendations such as those contained in BS 6915.
Common causes include restricted thermal movement, oversized bays, poor fixing, unsuitable substrates, fatigue and defective detailing. Our lead roof repair guide explains these failure mechanisms in more detail.
Often, but the appropriate repair depends upon the condition of the surrounding lead and the cause of failure. Localised defects may be repairable, while widespread fatigue or fundamentally poor detailing may require partial or complete replacement.
Visit our lead roofing projects archive to see completed bays, flat roofs, dormers, valleys, chimney details, heritage work and specialist architectural leadwork.
Explore our latest leadwork technical advice covering roofing, flashing, repairs, standards, tools, material codes and traditional leadworking techniques.
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